Eyeglass construction



Feb. 16, 1932. G, E NERNEY 1,845,761

EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, 1929 a INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. NERNEY, OI ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BAY STATE OPTICAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE EYEGLASS CONSTRUCTION Application filed Iebruary 12, 1929. Serial No. 339,332.

This invention relates to eyeglass construction and more particularly to the construc tion of eyeglasses in which nose-engaging members are mounted upon swinging levers.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a practical construction of the above type of a simple and durable nature. Another object is to provide a construction of the above 15 pe characterized by efficient and dependable action. Another object is to provide a construction of the above type which shall be adapted to meet the severe conditions of practical use and maintain its original eiiiciency. Other objects will be in part obvione and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale partially in section along the line 1-1 of ig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan partially broken away and partially taken in section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a lever partially cut away in order to show the construction more clearly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to these drawings in detail, there is shown a bridge interposed between a pair of lenses 11. As the construction at each side of the middle of the eyeglasses is substantially identical with that on the other side, the construction of one side only will be described in detail.

Lens 11 is here shown as mounted within a lens clamp comprising the Wings 12 upon a strap or circumferentially extending part 13, the lens being closely embraced by the Wings and resting against the strap and held in position by a screw 14 passing through the lens as well as the adjacent wings. There is nothing novel in this form of lens sup ort considered in and of itself, and it may ere' be noted that the term lens-supporting means is used throughout in a broad sense to comprehend any device capable of supporting the lens, whether of the above nature or in the form of a rim within which the lens is fitted. It may also be noted here that the term eyeglasses is used in its broad sense to include the spectacle form of ophthalmic mounting as well as the form which is supported only by the nose.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is to be noted that the bridge 10 extends directly into thelens support, thus bringing the lens nearer to the nose and permitting lenses of a large size to be used without undue increase of the pupillary distance. The end portion of the bridge is formedas shown at 15 into a substantially circular abutment provided with an annular bearing surface 16 which is preferably beveled in an upward and inward direction.

Formed upon the lens support beneath the part 15 and substantially registering therewith is a lug 17 which is provided with a bearing surface 18 also preferably beveled in an upward and inward direction, this beveling being exaggerated in degree as shown in the drawing A swinging lever, or so-called fingerpiece 19 is provided at its rear end with a noseengaging member or nose-pad 20, preferably secured thereto as by the curved part 21 so as to facilitate adjustment. The forward end of the lever is provided with a finger-grip 22 by which it may readily be manipulated in the usual way when the glasses are placed in position or removed from the nose.

The lever 19 is provided with a central barrel 23 adapted to fit snugly between the parts 15 and 17 and provided with surfaces shaped to coact with the bearing surfaces 16 and 18 and thus, when it is snapped into position, form a pivotal connection with the frame. Prior to the assembly of this part it has inserted therein a coil spring 24, the lower end of which is anchored within a slot 25 cut at the bottom of the barrel. The upper end passes through a recess 26 and bears against the rear side of the bridge as shown at 27, thereby tending to swing the noseengaging member 20 toward the nose to a degree limited by any suitable stop device.

It will thus be seen that the spring as well as the bearing surfaces are shielded from the accumulation of dirt and the corrosive action of perspiration and, while given ample freedom to perform their functions, are nevertheless self-contained and tend to maintain themselves in efficient condition for an indefinite time under the most severe conditions of use.

' Passing upwardly through the lug 17 is a screw 28 which is seated at its upper end 29 "in a threaded recess at the bottom of the end portion 15 of the bridge. This screw serves to adjust to some extent the tightness of the bearing surfaces of the lever, and furthermore adds to the security of the pivotal connection as well as providing a positive means of holding the spring in alignment. Although it thus to some extent acts as a pivot screw, it is to be noted that there is notendency in the use of the device to loosen or unscrew it from its original position.

. The eyeglasses as above described are used in the ordinary manner common to so-called linger-piece mountings, and the parts are readily assembled or disassembled if for any reason renewal or repairs are required.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are accomplished.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbeforeset forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lever having a hollow pivotal portion, a coiled spring within said hollow portion and connected to tend to swing said lever, and a pair of parts having undercut surfaces both connected with the frame of the eyeglasses and respectively closing and laterally sealing by said undercut surfaces the upper and lower ends of said hollow portion of said lever.

2. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a pair of supporting parts, a lever extending between said parts, and a screw passing through said lever and connecting said parts, said lever and said parts having interlocking pivotal bearing connection independently of said screw.

3. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member, a pair of parts extending laterally therefrom in fixed relative parallelism and disconnected except by said member, a nose-engaging member, a swinging lever mounted between said parts and having thereon said nose-engaging memher, and a member extending through said lever and having portions respectively resting within said parts at opposite sides of the lever.

4. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member, a' pair of parts extending laterally therefrom in fixed relative parallelism, a nose-engaging member,

and a swinging lever mounted between said' 1 parts and having thereon said nose-engaging member, said lever having a hollow pivotal portion betwen said parts which is closed and laterally sealed at itsupper and lower ends respectively by undercut surfaces on said parts.

5. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lever having a hollow pivotal portion, a coiled spring within said hollow 'por tion and connected to tend to swing said lever, a pair of parts both connected withthe frame of the eyeglasses in fixed position relative thereto and disconnected except by said frame and respectively closing the upper and lower ends of said hollow portion of said lever, and a member extending through said lever and resting within and supported by saidparts at each side of saidlever. 1 V I 6. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lever, a frame member shaped to provide a rotary bearing surface, means on said lever holding said lever in interlocking bearing relation to said surface, a screw passing through said lever and extending into said parts at each side of said lever to afi'ord'me'ans of adjusting the pressure thereagainst, and a spring tending to swing said lever.

7. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lever having a hollow pivotal portion, a coiled spring within said hollow portion and connected to tend to swing said lever, and a pair of parts both connected with the frame of the eyeglasses and respectively closing the upper and lower ends of said hollow portion of said lever,-said parts providing a pivotal bearing surface interfitting and coacting. with the portions of said lever with which they contact. 1

8. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lever having a hollow pivotal portion, a coiled spring within said hollow portion andconnected to tend to swing said lever, 11. pair of parts both connected-with the frame of the eyeglasses infixedrelation and disconnected except by said frame andrespectively closing the upper and lower ends of said hollow port-ion of said lever, and a screw passing through said lever and resting within said parts at each side of said lever. V

9. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member, a pair of partsextending laterally therefrom, a noseengaging member, a swinging lever mounted between said parts and having a pivotal connection therewith, said nose-engaging member being mounted upon said lever, a spring mounted on said lever between said parts and tending to swing said nose-engaging member, said lever having a hollow portion providing opposed bearing surfaces adapted to interfit with coacting bearing surfaces upon said parts said hollow portion being closed at its upper and lower ends respectively by said parts, and a screw passing through said lever and resting in said parts at each side of said lever.

10. In eyeglass construction, in combina tion, a lens-supporting member, a pair of parts extending laterally therefrom in fixed relative parallelism, a bridge connected to one of said parts, a nose-engaging member, and a swinging lever mounted between said parts and having thereon said nose-engaging member, said parts having undercut bearing surfaces within which said lever rests in interlocking bearing relation.

11. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-retaining member having a laterally extending portion forming a bridge the underside of which substantially adjacent said lens-retaining member forms a bearing surface, a second portion of said lens-retaining member extending laterally from and in substantial registry with said first portion to present a second bearing surface opposite said lirstenentioned bearing surface, a lever havin g secured thereto a barrel, the opposite ends of said barrel fitted within and interlocking with said bearing surfaces, a nose-engaging element secured to one end of said lever, and a spring mounted within said barrel adapted to swing said lever toward the nose of the wearer.

12. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-retaining member having a laterally extending port-ion formin a bridge the underside of which substantially ad acent said lens-retaining member forms a bearing surface, a second portion of said lens-retaining member extending laterally from and in substantial registry with said first portion to present a second bearing surface opposite said first-mentioned bearing surface, a lever having secured thereto a barrel, the opposite ends of said barrel fitted within and interlocking with said bearing surfaces, a noseengaging element secured to one end of said lever, a screw passing through one portion and tl'n'eaded into the other portion for retaining said lever therebetween against displacei'nent, and a spring situated between said screw and said barrel and adapted to swing said lever in one direction.

18. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member including two laterally extending members, said members having annular flange portions on the opposing surfaces thereof, a lever having a barrel connected thereto, said barrel fitted between said members, a nose-engaging member mounted on said lever, and means rotatably securing said barrel between said members and within said flanges.

14. In eyeglass construction, in combination, a lens-supporting member including two laterally extending members, said members having annular flange portions on the opposing surfaces thereof, a lever havin a barrel connected thereto, said barrel fitted between said members, and a nose-engaging member mounted on said lever, said barrel having beveled ends to interlock with said flange portions on said members.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 25th day of October, 1928.

GEORGE E. NERNEY. 

